Local veteran, Eric Scarlett, has done a lot in his lifetime. He went from being a kid, to being in the military, and was even on popular car shows.
However, these days he dedicates all of his time to creating art.
"I learned that I require something called instant gratification, and my artwork and building the flags that I do brings me that instant gratification,” said Eric.
Things like tape, angle grinders, and paint, may not mean so much to some people, but they mean the world to Eric.
After he was honorably discharged Eric knew he was struggling because of everything he'd been through.
"It was really odd to be 18 and see all these burning people and children, and I’d never seen anybody dead," said Eric, "You remember it later in time, those are things you remember. You remember your friend cutting his finger off, you definitely remember someone that died, I promise you.”
So he began channeling all of his energy toward his passion, he began creating custom American flags out of metal.
Making the flags wasn't only a way to try and cope with his past, they were primarily a way to help him move past his post traumatic stress disorder.
”I don’t do it for other people, and I don’t care what other people feel, cause it’s selfishness, it makes me feel good," said Eric.
Before he knew it, Eric's flag business had kicked off, and gained tons of popularity.
”From October 31st of 2017 to now I’ve made over probably, well over 130 of them,” said Eric.
The flags are a constant reminder of what Eric endured.
”But I look at it and know I did it, I fought for it and that I can accomplish anything so long as I set my mind to it. It may just be a small piece of metal but it’s a lot that comes out of my hands to do them.”
